Celebrities Who Got Married Long Before They Turned Twenty Years Old

While many people today choose to wait until they are older to wed, the history of Hollywood is filled with stars who married in their teenage years. Some of these young unions were driven by personal circumstances while others were the result of high profile romances. These early marriages often took place before these celebrities became household names or during the peak of their early fame. Exploring these stories provides a unique glimpse into the personal lives of famous figures from different eras of entertainment history.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe married her neighbor James Dougherty in 1942 when she was sixteen years old. The future actress entered the union to ensure she would not have to return to foster care or an orphanage. She worked in a munitions factory while her husband served in the merchant marines during the Second World War. Their marriage ended in divorce as her modeling and film career began to gain momentum. She eventually became a global icon for her roles in films like ‘The Seven Year Itch’.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor was eighteen years old when she married her first husband Conrad Hilton Junior in 1950. The wedding was a massive social event that the studio used to promote her film ‘Father of the Bride’. Their marriage lasted less than a year and ended in divorce in early 1951. Taylor went on to marry seven more times throughout her legendary career in Hollywood. She won multiple awards for her acting in movies such as ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich eloped with her costar Shawn Andrews in 1992 while she was only sixteen years old. The couple met on the set of the cult classic film ‘Dazed and Confused’. Her mother successfully moved to have the marriage annulled just two months after the ceremony. Jovovich later found major success as an action star in the ‘Resident Evil’ franchise. She eventually married director Paul W. S. Anderson in 2009.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore married her first husband Jeremy Thomas when she was nineteen years old in 1994. The actress had known the bar owner for a short period before they decided to wed in a spontaneous ceremony. The union was extremely brief and lasted for less than two months before they filed for divorce. Barrymore continued to build a successful career as an actress and producer in films like ‘Charlie’s Angels’. She later transitioned into hosting her own popular daytime talk show.

Melanie Griffith

Melanie Griffith was eighteen years old when she married actor Don Johnson in 1976. The pair had met several years earlier when she was only fourteen and he was twenty-two. Their first marriage lasted only six months before they decided to part ways. They eventually reconciled and married each other for a second time in 1989. Griffith earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in the movie ‘Working Girl’.

Demi Moore

Demi Moore married songwriter Freddy Moore in 1980 when she was eighteen years old. She took his last name as her professional stage name and kept it even after their marriage ended in 1985. The actress began her career appearing on the soap opera ‘General Hospital’ during the early years of their union. She later became a major star in the eighties and nineties with roles in ‘Ghost’ and ‘G.I. Jane’. Moore went on to marry actors Bruce Willis and Ashton Kutcher in later years.

LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes married backup dancer Dean Sheremet in 2002 when she was nineteen years old. The country music singer had already achieved massive success with hits like ‘How Do I Live’ and ‘Blue’. The couple remained married for seven years before their relationship ended in 2009. Rimes later married actor Eddie Cibrian following their meeting on the set of a television film. She has continued to release music and tour throughout her extensive career.

Cher

Cher was eighteen years old when she married her musical partner Sonny Bono in 1964. The duo became famous for their hit song ‘I Got You Babe’ and their successful television variety program. Their marriage lasted for over a decade before they officially divorced in 1975. Cher successfully transitioned into a solo music career and an acclaimed acting career in films like ‘Moonstruck’. She remains a prominent figure in the entertainment industry with a career spanning several decades.

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian eloped with music producer Damon Thomas in 2000 when she was nineteen years old. The marriage took place in Las Vegas several years before she became a reality television star. The couple remained married for three years before Thomas filed for divorce in 2003. Kardashian later rose to international fame through the series ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’. She has since become a billionaire business mogul and a major influence in fashion and pop culture.

Bo Derek

Bo Derek was nineteen years old when she married director John Derek in 1976. The couple met when she was a teenager and their relationship was initially controversial due to their age difference. They remained married until his death in 1998 which was a rare example of a long lasting Hollywood union. She became an international sex symbol after starring in the comedy film ’10’. Derek has remained active in film and television while also advocating for animal welfare.

Courtney Stodden

Courtney Stodden gained national media attention after marrying actor Doug Hutchison in 2011 at the age of sixteen. The significant age gap between the two became a frequent topic in tabloid news and reality television. Their marriage lasted for several years and included multiple separations before they finally divorced. Stodden has since pursued a career in music and has appeared on various reality programs. They have frequently spoken about the challenges of marrying at such a young age.

Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn married Oliver Lynn in 1948 when she was only fifteen years old. The legendary country singer had four children before she even reached the age of twenty. Her husband encouraged her to pursue a career in music which led to her becoming a major star in the genre. Their long and often tumultuous marriage lasted for nearly fifty years until his death in 1996. Her life story was famously depicted in the biographical film ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’.

Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner married actor Mickey Rooney in 1942 when she was nineteen years old. Rooney was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood at the time while Gardner was still an emerging talent. The marriage was short lived and ended in divorce just one year later. Gardner went on to become one of the most famous leading ladies of her era in films like ‘The Killers’. She later had high profile marriages to Artie Shaw and Frank Sinatra.

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin was nineteen years old when she married her first husband Ted White in 1961. White also served as her manager during the early years of her professional recording career. Their marriage was often described as difficult and eventually ended in divorce in 1969. Despite the personal turmoil she became the Queen of Soul with hits like ‘Respect’ and ‘Think’. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of popular music.

Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin married actress Rachel Miner in 1998 when both were only seventeen years old. The former child star had stepped away from the spotlight for several years before the wedding took place. The couple separated two years later and their divorce was finalized in 2002. Culkin eventually returned to acting and has appeared in projects like the series ‘American Horror Story’. He is best known for his iconic role as Kevin McCallister in the ‘Home Alone’ films.

Aaliyah

Aaliyah secretly married music producer R. Kelly in 1994 when she was only fifteen years old. The marriage certificate falsely stated that the young singer was eighteen at the time of the ceremony. Her parents discovered the marriage and successfully moved to have the union annulled. She continued to have a successful career in the music industry with hits such as ‘One in a Million’. Her life was later tragically cut short in a plane crash in 2001.

Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis was sixteen years old when he married his first wife Dorothy Barton in 1952. This was the first of seven marriages for the rock and roll pioneer throughout his life. His third marriage to his thirteen year old cousin Myra Gale Brown later caused a major scandal that nearly ended his career. Lewis was known for his high energy performances and hits like ‘Great Balls of Fire’. He eventually transitioned into country music and continued performing for decades.

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson eloped with singer James DeBarge in 1984 when she was eighteen years old. The marriage was part of her effort to establish independence from her famous family. The union was short lived and became annulled just one year later. She went on to become one of the most successful pop stars of all time with albums like ‘Control’. Her influence on music and dance continues to be recognized by fans around the world.

Taylor Hanson

Taylor Hanson married Natalie Bryant in 2002 when he was nineteen years old. He was a member of the popular band Hanson which gained worldwide fame with the song ‘MMMBop’. The couple has remained married for over two decades and they have seven children together. Hanson has continued to record music and tour with his brothers while also pursuing independent projects. Their long marriage is often cited as a rare success story for young celebrity couples.

Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple married actor John Agar in 1945 when she was seventeen years old. The former child star had spent much of her youth as the most famous person in the world. Their marriage lasted for five years and they had one daughter together before divorcing in 1950. Temple later married Charles Black and transitioned into a successful career as a diplomat and ambassador. She remains an enduring symbol of Hollywood’s golden age.

Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood was nineteen years old when she married actor Robert Wagner for the first time in 1957. The couple was considered one of the most attractive and popular pairs in Hollywood during the era. They divorced in 1962 but famously reconciled and married each other again in 1972. Wood starred in legendary films such as ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Rebel Without a Cause’. Her life ended tragically in 1981 in a drowning accident that remains a subject of public interest.

Judy Garland

Judy Garland married composer David Rose in 1941 when she was nineteen years old. The marriage took place despite strong opposition from her mother and the executives at her film studio. The couple separated within two years and their divorce was finalized in 1944. Garland went on to marry four more times including a marriage to director Vincente Minnelli. She is remembered for her extraordinary talent in films like ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘A Star Is Born’.

Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman married actor Gary Oldman in 1990 when she was nineteen years old. The couple had met while working on the film ‘State of Grace’ and their marriage lasted for two years. Thurman later achieved international stardom through her collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino. She starred in iconic movies such as ‘Pulp Fiction’ and the ‘Kill Bill’ series. She was later married to actor Ethan Hawke for several years.

Mamie Van Doren

Mamie Van Doren married her first husband Jack Newman in 1946 when she was only fifteen years old. The marriage was brief and she soon moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment. She later married bandleader Ray Anthony in 1955 when she was still in her early twenties. Van Doren became famous as one of the Three M’s of Hollywood alongside Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. She appeared in numerous films during the fifties including ‘Untamed Youth’.

Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr was eighteen years old when she married Austrian arms merchant Friedrich Mandl in 1933. She later described the marriage as extremely controlling and fled to Paris before moving to the United States. She became a major film star in Hollywood with roles in movies like ‘Samson and Delilah’. Lamarr was also a talented inventor who helped develop a frequency hopping system during World War II. Her technological contributions eventually laid the groundwork for modern wireless communication.

Lana Turner

Lana Turner married bandleader Artie Shaw in 1940 when she was nineteen years old. The couple eloped on their very first date which caused a sensation in the news of the time. The impulsive marriage lasted only four months before they decided to divorce. Turner became a major star for MGM and appeared in films like ‘The Postman Always Rings Twice’. She was married eight times throughout her life to seven different men.

Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot was eighteen years old when she married director Roger Vadim in 1952. Vadim directed her in the film ‘And God Created Woman’ which turned her into an international superstar. Their marriage lasted for five years before they divorced in 1957. Bardot became a global fashion icon and one of the most famous faces of the French New Wave. After retiring from acting she became a prominent activist for animal rights.

Sandra Dee

Sandra Dee married singer Bobby Darin in 1960 when she was eighteen years old. The couple had met while filming the movie ‘Come September’ and their romance was closely followed by the public. They had one son together before their marriage ended in divorce in 1967. Dee was a popular teen idol known for her roles in films like ‘Gidget’ and ‘A Summer Place’. Her life and marriage were later dramatized in the biographical film ‘Beyond the Sea’.

Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow was sixteen years old when she married Charles McGrew in 1927. She moved to Los Angeles during their marriage which helped launch her career as a background actress and model. The couple divorced in 1929 just as her fame began to skyrocket in the film industry. Harlow became the original Blonde Bombshell and a major star for MGM in movies like ‘Red Dust’. Her career was cut short by her untimely death at the age of twenty-six.

Patty Duke

Patty Duke married assistant director Harry Falk in 1965 when she was eighteen years old. She had already won an Academy Award for her role in ‘The Miracle Worker’ several years prior. The marriage lasted for four years and ended in divorce in 1969. Duke continued to have a successful career in television and film while also becoming an advocate for mental health. She won multiple Emmy Awards throughout her long career in the industry.

Mackenzie Phillips

Mackenzie Phillips was nineteen years old when she married her first husband Jeff Sessler in 1979. At the time she was a major star on the popular television sitcom ‘One Day at a Time’. The marriage lasted for approximately two years during a difficult period in her personal life. Phillips later wrote a candid memoir about her experiences as a child star and her struggles with addiction. She has since become a counselor and an advocate for recovery.

Dimple Kapadia

Dimple Kapadia married superstar actor Rajesh Khanna in 1973 when she was only sixteen years old. The marriage took place just before the release of her debut film ‘Bobby’ which became a massive hit. She retired from acting for over a decade to focus on her marriage and her children. Kapadia returned to the screen in the eighties and became a highly respected actress in Indian cinema. She recently appeared in the international blockbuster film ‘Tenet’ directed by Christopher Nolan.

Divya Bharti

Divya Bharti was eighteen years old when she married film producer Sajid Nadiadwala in 1992. She was one of the highest paid and most popular actresses in India during the early nineties. Her career was marked by a rapid rise to fame with multiple successful films released in a short span of time. Her life ended tragically in 1993 after a fall from a high rise building in Mumbai. Her sudden death at the age of nineteen shocked the entire film industry.

Ginger Rogers

Ginger Rogers married her first husband Jack Culpepper in 1929 when she was seventeen years old. They were a vaudeville dance act together before their marriage ended after only a few months. Rogers eventually moved to Hollywood where she became a legendary actress and dancer. She is most famous for her professional partnership with Fred Astaire in several classic musical films. She won an Academy Award for her dramatic performance in the movie ‘Kitty Foyle’.

Morgan Fairchild

Morgan Fairchild married Jack Calmes in 1967 when she was seventeen years old. The couple remained married for several years before divorcing in 1973 as she began her acting career. She first gained national recognition on the daytime soap opera ‘Search for Tomorrow’. Fairchild became a television icon in the eighties with roles in series like ‘Flamingo Road’ and ‘Falcon Crest’. She has also been an active member of the Screen Actors Guild for many years.

Jennifer O’Neill

Jennifer O’Neill was seventeen years old when she married her first husband Dean Rossiter in 1965. This was the first of nine marriages for the actress throughout her personal life. She began her career as a successful model before transitioning into film and television. O’Neill is best known for her leading role in the 1971 film ‘Summer of ’42’. She later became a writer and a public speaker on various personal and religious topics.

Michelle Phillips

Michelle Phillips was eighteen years old when she married John Phillips in 1962. They became members of the legendary folk rock group The Mamas and the Papas. The group achieved massive success with hits like ‘California Dreamin’’ and ‘Monday, Monday’. Their marriage lasted for eight years and they had one daughter together before divorcing in 1970. Phillips later pursued a successful career as an actress in films and on the television show ‘Knots Landing’.

Crystal Gayle

Crystal Gayle married her high school sweetheart Bill Gatzimos in 1971 when she was nineteen years old. She is the younger sister of country music legend Loretta Lynn and achieved her own fame in the seventies. The couple has remained married for over fifty years and they have two children together. Gayle is famous for her floor length hair and hit songs such as ‘Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue’. She was one of the first country artists to achieve significant crossover success on pop charts.

Tammy Wynette

Tammy Wynette was seventeen years old when she married her first husband Euple Byrd in 1959. The couple had three children together before their marriage ended in 1966. She worked as a beautician while trying to launch her music career in Nashville. Wynette eventually became the First Lady of Country Music with the iconic hit ‘Stand by Your Man’. She had several high profile marriages including a famous union with fellow singer George Jones.

Carole King

Carole King was seventeen years old when she married her songwriting partner Gerry Goffin in 1959. The duo became one of the most successful songwriting teams in history while working at the Brill Building. They wrote legendary hits such as ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ and ‘The Loco-Motion’. Their marriage ended in 1968 and King later launched a historic solo career as a performer. Her album ‘Tapestry’ remains one of the best selling records of all time.

Brenda Lee

Brenda Lee married Ronnie Shacklett in 1963 when she was eighteen years old. She had already been a professional singer for many years and was a global star with hits like ‘I’m Sorry’. The couple has remained married for six decades which is a significant milestone in the entertainment world. Lee was a major figure in rockabilly and country music during the fifties and sixties. She is also famous for the classic holiday song ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’.

Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull was eighteen years old when she married artist John Dunbar in 1965. The wedding took place during the height of the Swinging London era while she was a rising pop star. They had one son together but the marriage ended as she became more involved in the rock and roll scene. Faithfull had a high profile relationship with Mick Jagger that influenced much of her public image. She eventually rebuilt her career and earned critical acclaim as a singer and songwriter.

Loretta Young

Loretta Young eloped with actor Grant Withers in 1930 when she was seventeen years old. The marriage was controversial at the time and was annulled just one year later. Young went on to have a highly successful career that spanned several decades in Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for her performance in ‘The Farmer’s Daughter’. She also hosted her own long running television program called ‘The Loretta Young Show’.

Maureen O’Hara

Maureen O’Hara married film producer George Hanley Brown in 1939 when she was eighteen years old. The marriage took place just as she was moving to Hollywood to star in ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’. The union was short lived and was officially annulled in 1941. O’Hara became a legendary actress known for her red hair and her roles in classic films like ‘The Quiet Man’. She frequently starred alongside John Wayne and became a favorite of director John Ford.

Kathryn Grayson

Kathryn Grayson married actor John Shelton in 1941 when she was nineteen years old. She was a trained opera singer and a rising star in musical films at MGM. Their marriage lasted for five years and was often featured in movie magazines of the era. Grayson became a major star in classic musicals such as ‘Show Boat’ and ‘Kiss Me Kate’. She continued to perform on stage and in films throughout the forties and fifties.

Cyd Charisse

Cyd Charisse married her dance teacher Nico Charisse in 1939 when she was eighteen years old. She was an aspiring ballet dancer at the time and used his last name for the rest of her professional career. The couple had one son together before their marriage ended in 1947. Charisse became one of the most famous dancers in cinema history with roles in ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and ‘The Band Wagon’. She later had a long and happy marriage to singer Tony Martin.

Leslie Caron

Leslie Caron was nineteen years old when she married George Hormel II in 1951. She had recently achieved international fame after starring in the musical ‘An American in Paris’. The marriage lasted for three years and ended in divorce in 1954. Caron continued to star in major films such as ‘Lili’ and ‘Gigi’ and became a celebrated figure in both French and American cinema. She has won multiple awards including a Golden Globe and an Emmy during her career.

Janet Leigh

Janet Leigh entered her first marriage at the age of fourteen with John Kenneth Carlisle in 1942. The union lasted only a few months before it was officially annulled. She later became a prominent actress known for her role in the horror film ‘Psycho’. During her career she worked with famous directors in films such as ‘Touch of Evil’ and ‘The Manchurian Candidate’. Her daughter Jamie Lee Curtis became a well known actress in the following decades.

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